DUO – Episode 9: “The Beginning of the Rift”

Theme: Betrayal, resentment, broken rhythm

Tone: Cold, sharp, emotionally wounded

Visual Palette: Bleak greys and sharp shadows, muted color tones

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[OPENING SCENE]

Visuals: Tokyo streets blurred by rainfall. Yuji walks alone, hood up, avoiding eye contact with passersby.

Narrator (V.O.):

“Trust—once broken—doesn’t shatter. It rusts. Slowly. Quietly.”

Cut to:

Title Card: DUO – Episode 9: “The Beginning of the Rift”

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Scene 1: A Routine Broken

Location: Underpass

Yuji and Kusabimaru pack up for the day. No words exchanged.

Their once-synchronized movements are now out of sync. Kusabimaru drops a spoon; Yuji doesn’t help.

Kusabimaru (trying to ease tension):

“You wanna hit the old scrapyard today? Might score some copper.”

Yuji (flat):

“Go alone.”

Kusabimaru sighs, walks off.

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Scene 2: Ito’s Confession

Location: Empty classroom Ito uses for film club

Ito films herself in a mirror. Behind-the-scenes footage.

Ito (to camera):

“I made the wrong choice… maybe the right one at the wrong time.”

She stares at the lens. Stops recording. Deletes the footage.

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Scene 3: Solo Hustle

Location: Back alley market

Yuji attempts to sell old parts from an AC unit. The buyer lowballs him.

Buyer:

“Kids like you don’t got choices.”

Yuji almost accepts—then walks away. Pride, even in hunger.

Cut to:

Kusabimaru scoring more by joking with vendors, cracking smiles. But his eyes keep searching—for Yuji.

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Scene 4: Stranger in the Crowd

Location: Crowded train station

Ito spots Yuji in the crowd. She tries to approach, but he turns and disappears into the flow of bodies.

Ito (whispering):

“I hurt him.”

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Scene 5: Blowup

Location: Rooftop

That night, Kusabimaru returns to find Yuji on their usual rooftop. For the first time in days, he speaks straight.

Kusabimaru:

“You’re punishing me, but I didn’t ask her to like me.”

Yuji (cold):

“You didn’t stop her either.”

Kusabimaru:

“She’s not an object, man.”

Yuji (shouting):

“But I loved her! You knew that!”

Kusabimaru (firm):

“Yeah. And I backed off. But she kept coming. What do you want me to do—lie to her? To myself?”

Silence. Then:

Yuji:

“Leave.”

Kusabimaru:

“Yuji—”

Yuji:

“Just go.”

Kusabimaru walks away without another word.

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Scene 6: Split

Location: Underpass – Next morning

Yuji wakes up alone. His side of the blanket undisturbed.

No sign of Kusabimaru.

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ENDING SCENE

Location: A bus stop, cold and foggy

Kusabimaru boards a late-night bus. Sits by the window.

Ito texts: “Where are you?”

He doesn’t answer. Just watches the city roll away.

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[END CREDITS – Somber string arrangement with ambient street sounds beneath]

Post-Credit Scene:

Yuji stands before a closed bookstore window, staring at a photo of a boy and girl smiling inside a display. He rests his forehead against the glass.